Vehicle Comprising a Turrent Mount, An Auxiliary Mount, and a Viewing Device Arranged on the Auxiliary Mount

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a military combat vehicle, with a hull ( 2 ) that accommodates the vehicle crew, a turret mount ( 3 ) arranged above the hull ( 2 ) for accommodating a primary weapon ( 4 ), an auxiliary mount for accommodating a secondary weapon ( 6 ), and a panoramic viewing device ( 7 ) for observing the vehicle surroundings, wherein the panoramic viewing device is arranged on the auxiliary mount and/or the auxiliary mount is arranged above the turret mount at a hull-mounted fastening point.

The invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a military combat vehicle, with a hull for accommodating the vehicle occupants, a turret mount arranged above the hull for receiving a primary weapon, an auxiliary mount for receiving a secondary weapon, and a viewing device for observing the surrounding environment of the vehicle.

With military combat vehicles, the vehicle occupants are accommodated in a hull that is protected against adverse warfare agents. The manned or unmanned turret mount, in which a primary weapon of larger caliber is directionally accommodated about a vertical azimuth axis and a horizontally-running elevation axis, is located above the hull. In addition, viewing devices are provided primarily on the upper side of the turret mount, by means of which the vehicle occupants can observe the vehicle's surrounding environment. These types of viewing devices, which are often embodied as panoramic viewing devices, are particularly necessary with unmanned turret mounts and permit observation of the vehicle's surrounding environment in an angular range of 0 to 360°.

In order to equip the vehicle with a graded weapon effect, it is frequently provided that in additional to the actual primary weapon, a secondary weapon of smaller caliber is arranged on the vehicle.

With some of the known vehicles, this secondary weapon is arranged coaxially to the primary weapon and is rigidly coupled with this in a common, vertically adjustable body. Such an arrangement of the secondary weapon is in this respect disadvantageous, because when turning the secondary weapon, the main weapon always must also be turned, which requires more time due to the higher caliber of the main weapon, whereby comparably long turning times result. A further disadvantage is that the primary weapon and the secondary weapon cannot be directed simultaneously toward different targets.

In order to avoid these disadvantages, other military vehicles are equipped with an auxiliary mount for receiving the secondary weapon, which is arranged on the turret mount. These types of auxiliary mounts indeed can be quickly directed to other targets than that of the primary weapon, but this leads to a series of further problems. For example, the arrangement of an auxiliary mount on the turret mount can result in covering of a sector of the 360° viewing range of the viewing device. A further problem is that the auxiliary mount upon turning of the turret mount is also turned and with simultaneous turning of both mounts in different directions, the turning motion of the turret mount must be recalculated by means of complex calculation algorithms from the turning motion of the auxiliary mount.

The object of the present invention is to reduce the mutual adverse effects between the turret mount, the auxiliary mount, and the viewing device in a vehicle of the above-noted type.

This object is solved with a vehicle of the above-noted type, in which the viewing device is arranged on the auxiliary mount.

By means of this arrangement of the viewing device, embodied in particular as a panoramic viewing device, on the auxiliary mount, a sectoral viewing limitation of the viewing device by the auxiliary mount can be avoided. By means of the viewing device, the vehicle's surrounding environment can be observed without this being covered area-by-area by the auxiliary mount.

As a further solution of the object, it is proposed that the auxiliary mount is arranged above the turret mount on a hull-mounted fastening point. With this arrangement of the auxiliary mount on a hull-mounted fastening point, azimuth directional movements of the turret mount are not transferred to the auxiliary mount. When turning the turret mount, the auxiliary mount is not also turned, so that this can be turned independently from the turning direction of the turret mount in any direction.

A particularly advantageous solution contemplates that the viewing device is arranged on the auxiliary mount and the auxiliary mount is arranged above the turret mount on a hull-mounted fastening point, whereby mutual adverse effects between the turret mount, auxiliary mount and viewing device can be avoided.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is further proposed that the viewing device is arranged above the turret mount and the auxiliary mount. With this arrangement of the viewing device above the turret mount as well as above or on the upper side of the auxiliary mount, the viewing device is located at a very high vantage point, from which the surrounding environment of the vehicle can be observed without limiting the 360° visibility range.

According to one advantageous embodiment, the turret mount and the auxiliary mount are directionally decoupled from one another. By means of the directional decoupling of both mounts, one of the mounts can be turned without affecting in any manner the position of the other mount.

In this connection, it is advantageous when separate turning drives are provided for the turning movements of the turret mount and the auxiliary mount. The turning drives can be designed according to the body to be turned.

It is also advantageous if the turret mount and the auxiliary mount are provided with respective, separate stabilizing devices, for example gyro-stabilizers.

It is further proposed that the fastening point is disposed in the area of the azimuth directional axis of the turret mount. The arrangement of the fastening point in the area of the azimuth directional axis has a constructive advantage, since a hull-mounted fastening point for mounting the auxiliary mount in this area is permitted.

It is further proposed that the azimuth directional axis of the turret mount runs through a hull-mounted journal. The journal can be attached to the hull of the vehicle and the fastening point for arrangement of the auxiliary mount is provided on its end facing away from the hull.

The journal can be a dome-like cylinder extending from the vehicle hull in the vertical direction, about which the turret mount is mounted to be adjustable in the azimuth direction.

A further embodiment of the invention contemplates that the journal terminates substantially flush with the upper ide of the turret mount. In the area of this termination, the auxiliary mount can be connected with the journal, for example by means of screws.

It is advantageous to provide an emergency coupling between the azimuth directional drive of the auxiliary mount and the turret mount. By means of the emergency coupling, in the event of a failure of the drive of the turret mount, this can be turned by the drive of the auxiliary mount. For example, if the azimuth directional drive of the turret mount fails in one position, in which the primary weapon projects laterally over the contour of the vehicle, which for example would be disadvantageous when navigating narrow streets in urban area, via the emergency coupling, the turret mount can be turned back into its 12:00 position, in which the primary weapon extends parallel to the vehicle's longitudinal direction.

In this connection, it is advantageous when the emergency coupling has a driver that can be brought into engagement with the turret mount and/or a driver that can be brought into engagement with the auxiliary mount. By engagement of a corresponding driver, the turret mount can be driven upon turning of the hull-mounted auxiliary mount and brought into its 12:00 position.

In an embodiment of the invention, it is further proposed that the driver that can be brought into engagement with the turret mount and/or the driver that can be brought into engagement with the auxiliary mount are moveable from an idle or resting position into a driving position. For example, the driver(s) can be embodied as foldable brackets, which are brought into a driving position by a folding motion. The corresponding folding motions can be driven in a motorized fashion and in particular, can be initiated from the protected vehicle hull.

In addition, an embodiment is proposed in which the azimuth directional drive of the auxiliary mount is coupled with the turret mount via a gear drive. Via the gear coupling, the necessary forces for movement of the turret mount over the smaller directional drive of the auxiliary mount are provided. The gear drive can be a worm gear, for example, which engages in a crown gear of the turret mount.

According to a further embodiment, the drive can be a driven coupler bolt. The bolt can be brought into engagement with the turret mount when needed. The drive of the coupler bolt can take place, for example, electro-mechanically or hydraulically.

Finally, it is advantageous if the auxiliary mount is a weapon station that can be operated from the interior of the hull. Such weapon stations can be operated via remote control from the protected vehicle interior. Also, such weapon stations can be equipped to accommodate different types of weapons for transporting lethal and non-lethal agents, for example, machine guns, mortar, or similar weapons, in order to provide as necessary a suitable secondary armament. In addition, such types of weapon stations can accommodate weapons of different calibers.

Further details and advantages of the invention will be described next with reference to the drawings of one exemplary embodiment. The drawings show in schematic view:

FIG. 1 a lateral view of an upper vehicle area;

FIG. 2 a lateral view of the vehicle according to FIG. 1 with a demounted turret mount and a demounted auxiliary mount; and

FIG. 3 a lateral partial view of the upper vehicle area for illustration of the emergency coupling.

In FIGS. 1 through 3, a military combat vehicle 1 is shown in partial schematic representation.

The vehicle 1 has a hull 2 for receiving vehicle occupants, which is designed to be protected against outer effects by suitable ballistic and blast protective features.

A turret mount 3 is provided on the vehicle hull 2, within which a primary weapon 4 is accommodated to pivot about a vertically extending azimuth axis A as well as a horizontally extending elevation axis E. The turret mount 3 and the primary weapon 4 embodied as a barreled weapon form the protective turret of the vehicle 1. The turret mount 3 is freely rotatably mounted above the vehicle hull 3 in an angular range of 360°. The turret mount 3 is an unmanned turret that can be remotely operated from the hull interior, the turret mount in this regard not having the same protective specifications as the vehicle hull 2 that accommodates the vehicle occupants.

In order to enable a graded or stepped weapon effect, a secondary weapon 6 of smaller caliber is provided in addition to the primary weapon 4 having a relatively larger caliber. This secondary weapon is likewise accommodated in an auxiliary mount 5 such that it is pivotable about a horizontally extending elevation axis as well as about a vertically extending azimuth axis. The auxiliary mount 5 is equipped according to a type of remotely operable weapon station and mounted to a hull-mounted fastening point 8, such that the secondary weapon 6 is arranged above the turret mount 3. By means of the hull-mounted arrangement of the auxiliary mount 5, azimuth directional movements of the turret mount 3 do not lead to any reciprocal action with the auxiliary mount 5. The turret mount 3 can be turned without this leading to a movement of the auxiliary mount 5.

The turret mount 3 is rotatable according to a type of ring mount about a journal 9 fixed to the vehicle hull 2. The journal 9 extends in a dome-like manner from the hull 2 in a vertical direction into a plane, which lies approximately at the height of the upper side 10 of the turret mount 3. The central axis of the journal 9 forms the azimuth directional axis A of the turret mount 3. The end of the journal 9 facing away from the hull 2 forms the fastening point 8 to which the auxiliary mount 5 is mounted. The journal 9 is formed in the manner of a hollow-cylindrical dome, which extends from the upper side of the hull 2 in the vertical direction (see also FIG. 3). The auxiliary mount 5 is mounted in a hull-fixed manner on the end face of the journal 9. The supply lines necessary for driving the auxiliary mount 5 can be placed through the interior of the journal 9.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the azimuth directional axis of the auxiliary mount 5 runs coaxial to the azimuth directional axis A of the turret mount 3. The azimuth directional axis of the turret mount 3 and the auxiliary mount 5, however, can, also be arranged to be slightly offset to one another.

Both mounts 3, 5, are provided with separate turning drives as well as stabilizing devices.

The viewing device 7, embodied in particular as a panoramic viewing device, is arranged on the upper end of the auxiliary mount 5 and forms a viewing point that is raised relative to the turret mount 3 and the auxiliary mount 5. From this position, the vehicle's surrounding environment can be observed in a complete angular range of 360°, without any area of the auxiliary mount 5 being covered. Conversely, there also is no adverse effect on the secondary weapon 6 by the viewing device 7. The auxiliary mount 5 and the viewing device 7 form in common an effective, armed type of viewing means above the contour of the turret mount 3.

The secondary weapon 6 can be freely turned in a total half-space of 180° above the auxiliary mount 3. Also a specific depression of the secondary weapon 6, for example for control of aggressors moving close to the vehicle contour, can be achieved via the auxiliary mount 5.

Alternatively to the previously described embodiment, the viewing device 7 need not be directly disposed on the auxiliary mount 5. It also is possible to attach the panoramic viewing device 7 to the secondary weapon 6 and in this regard, attach it indirectly to the auxiliary mount 5.

With the previously described vehicle, the turret mount 3, the auxiliary mount 5, and the panoramic viewing device 7 are arranged in a cascading manner relative to one another, that is, the auxiliary mount 5 is arranged over the turret mount 3 and over or on this, the panoramic viewing device 7.

With the above-described arrangement of the turret mount 3, the auxiliary mount 5 and the panoramic viewing device 7, an arrangement of these components is provided in which these components will not mutually adversely affect each other. The turning movements of the turret mount 3 are decoupled from those of the auxiliary mount 5 and vice versa. The viewing range of the panoramic viewing device 7 likewise is not adversely affected.

In contrast to the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 with an auxiliary mount 5 fastened to the end face of the journal 9, for example by screws, the auxiliary mount 5 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is attached via a plate-shaped receiver 14 on the upper side 10 or roof of the turret 3. The receiver 14 is rotationally coupled via a bearing 15 relative to the turret 3 and is rotatably connected via a fixing arrangement (not shown in FIG. 3) with the hull-mounted journal, which in this regard forms a hull-mounted fastening point for the auxiliary mount 5.

FIG. 3 shows further details of the emergency coupling 11 provided between the auxiliary mount 5 and the turret mount 3.

As shown in the figure, the emergency coupling 11 comprises two drivers 12, 13, according to this embodiment a type of foldable brackets. One of the drivers 12 is arranged on the azimuth directional part of the auxiliary mount 5 and can be changed from an essentially upright position into an essentially horizontal position. The second driver 13 is attached to the turret mount 3 and can be brought from an essentially horizontal portion into an essentially vertical driving position. Alternatively, it is also contemplated to design one of the two drivers 12, 13 as a fixed driver. For example, the driver 13 can be embodied as a fixed bolt in its driving position.

Upon rotation of the auxiliary mount 5 about the azimuth direction axis A, the driver 12 in the driving position moves from a specific rotational position into engagement with the driver 13, whereby with further rotation of the auxiliary mount 5, a turning motion of the turret mount 3 about its azimuth axis takes place. With a primary weapon 4 stuck in the three o'clock position due to failure of the azimuth direction drive of the turret mount 3, for example, the primary weapon 4 can be returned to its 12:00 position via the turning drive of the auxiliary mount 5.

In this connection, it is not necessary that the occupants leave the interior of the protected vehicle hull 2. The driver 12 can be brought into its driving position from the protected vehicle interior.

The driver 12, 13 can be embodied as a driven coupler bolt, driven for example via an electro-motorized or pneumatic drive. Also the azimuth directional drive of the auxiliary mount 5 can be coupled with the turret mount 3 via a gear drive (not shown in the figures).

REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 Vehicle

2 hull

3 turret mount

4 primary weapon

5 auxiliary mount

6 secondary weapon

7 viewing device

8 fastening point

9 journal

10 upper side

11 emergency coupling

12 driver

13 driver

14 receiver

15 bearing

A azimuth directional axis

B elevation axis 

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A military vehicle, comprising: a hull for receiving vehicle occupants; a turret mount arranged above the hull for receiving a primary weapon; an auxiliary mount for receiving a secondary weapon; and a viewing device for observing a surrounding environment of the vehicle, wherein the viewing device is arranged on the auxiliary mount.
 15. The vehicle according to claim 14 wherein the auxiliary mount is arranged above the turret mount on a hull-mounted fastening point.
 16. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the viewing device is arranged above the turret mount and the auxiliary mount.
 17. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the turret mount and the auxiliary mount are directionally decoupled from one another.
 18. The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the fastening point is arranged in a region of an azimuth directional axis of the turret mount.
 19. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the azimuth directional axis of the turret mount runs through a hull-fixed journal.
 20. The vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the journal terminates approximately flush with an upper side of the turret mount.
 21. The vehicle according to claim 14, further comprising an emergency coupling disposed between an azimuth directional drive of the auxiliary mount and the turret mount.
 22. The vehicle according to claim 21, wherein the emergency coupling has a first driver that is configured to be brought into engagement with the turret mount and/or a second driver that is configured to be brought into engagement with the auxiliary mount.
 23. The vehicle according to claim 22, wherein the first driver and/or the second driver, respectively, are changeable from an idle position into a driving position.
 24. The vehicle according to claim 21, wherein the azimuth directional drive of the auxiliary mount is coupled with the turret mount via a gear drive.
 25. The vehicle according to claim 22, wherein each of said first and second drivers is a driven coupler bolt.
 26. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the auxiliary mount is a weapon station that is operable from outside an interior region of the hull. 